Checking in!

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone!

I thought I'd send in an update, as I recently had my six month Xolair

review.

My doctor and I discussed the changes that I've noticed since I began

treatment. I'm not as perfect as I'd prayed for, but I am healthy enough to

finally start weaning off of prednisone! I've been on 60mg/day for almost

two years, and I've been on some dose of it daily for seven years now. He's

going to schedule a bone density test, to see how much if any damage has

been done there. Once I get down to 30mg/day he's going to be doing

frequent bloodwork and carefully stepping down in order to re-awaken my

adrenal glands. And the best part is, he said that he thinks I'm finally

stable enough to begin allergy shots!

I've attempted allergy shots twice in my life. Once in my teens and once

about five years ago. Both times, I had horribly bad systemic reactions to

incredibly small doses. Both doctors kept diluting the doses, and I kept

reacting. Finally, they threw up their hands and said that it just wasn't

reasonable for me to continue. Now, with six months of Xolair in my system,

my doctor thinks it is reasonable and safe to begin with extremely small

doses and work my way up. He's convinced that I absolutely NEED the

immunotherapy in order to get my life back and be capable of working again

someday.

I'm glad to say that I'm finally sleeping through almost every single night

without needing my nebulizer, and while I still need albuterol every single

day, I'm finding that one or two quick puffs of an inhaler is sufficient as

opposed to sitting through a full nebulizer treatment each and every time.

That's such a major stride for me! I'm able to leave the house with just an

inhaler in my purse instead of packing my neb into the trunk. I can finally

sleep with my oxygen tank in the corner of the room instead of right next to

the bed! Such welcome changes! I'm only needing Albuterol once or twice

per day as opposed to the literally countless times of my past.

I've been hospital stay and ER visit free since MAY, and that is a HUGE

accomplishment for me. I mean HUGE! True, that stay in May was 6 days in

Intensive Care, but to have made it this long without another major flare up

is nothing short of miraculous.

I've told my doctor about this group and how much help it has been to me.

He was thrilled to hear that such a thing existed and offers his praise to

Doug for founding it and to all the others who offer sound advice and

calming words! He said that it was a wonderful idea and was truly thankful

that I had a place to voice my story and hear how others are faring!

So I'll add my thanks and praise to his, and let you know that I'm thrilled

to be a part of this group and a Xolair patient! I hope everyone continues

to have positive progress!

~

Haverhill, MA